Using my debit or credit card abroad
Happy Holidays
Going on holiday or taking a business trip? Our debit and credit cards make purchasing things and taking out cash abroad as convenient as possible.
Free transactions in Europe
Save on those travel costs with no card transaction fees in the Single European Payments Area (SEPA)
Great rates beyond Europe
Going long haul? We offer great value rates in the rest of the world.
Free or low-cost card fees on purchases
Free or low-cost card fees on purchases
You don’t have to pay any non-sterling transaction fees or non-sterling cash fees when you make debit card payments and cash withdrawals in foreign currency in Europe.
In other countries, there will be a non-sterling transaction fee of 2.99% although there are no non-sterling purchase fees. The table gives an example of how these fees for purchases work both inside and outside Europe.
What it costs to make purchases abroad
| Inside Europe | Outside Europe | |
|---|---|---|
| Original transaction value (equivalent in GBP) | £100 | £100 |
| Non-sterling transaction fee | Free | 2.99% |
| Non-sterling purchase fee | Free | Free |
| Total that you will be charged | £100 | £102.99 |
Get all the details to read at your leisure
Download our PDF to read when you like - it contains all the ins and outs of using your debit or credit card abroad.
Using your debit or credit card abroad (PDF)(224KB)
You can also read about your rights when making payments in Europe.
Fees for withdrawing cash
Fees for withdrawing cash
There are no fees for taking money out in Europe. In other countries, there will be a non-sterling transaction fee of 2.99%* as well as a non-sterling cash fee of £1.50. The table shows you an example of how much you’ll pay in fees if you withdraw cash both inside and outside Europe.
What it costs to withdraw cash abroad
| Inside Europe | Outside Europe | |
|---|---|---|
| Original transaction value (equivalent in GBP) | £100 | £100 |
| Non-sterling transaction fee | Free | 2.99%* |
| Non-sterling purchase fee | Free | £1.50 |
| Total that you will be charged | £100 | £104.49 |
Things to think about
Things to think about
- Some cash machines may charge you for using them. If they do, there should always be a warning on screen and a chance to cancel the transaction.
- Some retailers and cash machines abroad let you convert payments into sterling on the spot. But the exchange rates they use might not be as competitive as the ones we offer through MasterCard.
- Foreign transactions can sometimes take a few days to be reported to us. So the transaction date on your statement will be the day we were made aware of it.
Where you can use your card for free
Learn more about the SEPA below:
More about which countries are in the SEPA Less about which countries are in the SEPA
When we refer to Europe we regard the countries which are part of the Single European Payments Area (SEPA).
- 19 EU Euro countries - Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain
- 9 EU non-Euro countries - Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, United Kingdom
- 3 non-EU, Euro countries – Andorra, Monaco, San Marino
- 4 non-EU, non-Euro countries - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
You can use your Metro Bank Debit or Credit Card wherever you see the MasterCard logo. MasterCard® is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated.
FAQs
What’s a non-sterling transaction fee?
It’s a fee charged on transactions made in a foreign currency outside the UK and Europe.
What’s a non-sterling purchase fee?
These fees are charged on cash transactions made in a foreign currency outside the UK and Europe. They apply when you make cash withdrawals from cash machines and over the counter in a foreign currency outside the UK, make electronic transfers of funds, like money orders and wire transfers or buy foreign currency in exchange bureaus.
What if I lose my card or it gets stolen when I’m abroad?
You can use your Metro Bank Mobile App to block your card permanently or temporarily – just tap ‘My Services’ then ‘Cards’.
Alternatively, if you are abroad you can call us on 0044 203 402 8312.
Where can I find the Mastercard exchange rates?
Use our exchange rate calculator to see the most up-to-date exchange rates.
What are ATM currency conversion rates for non-UK bank card holders?
ATM currency conversion rates apply for non-UK bank card holders withdrawing cash in GBP from one of our cash machines – you can choose to use either the Metro Bank currency conversion rate or the one set by your bank. To find out more about ATM currency conversion rates, click here.
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